David Owen – Why McLaren poses no threat to Russia’s World Cup
Let’s be clear: the McLaren Investigation Report, the second part of which was unveiled in London last week, poses no threat to Russia’s World Cup.
Let’s be clear: the McLaren Investigation Report, the second part of which was unveiled in London last week, poses no threat to Russia’s World Cup.
By Paul Nicholson
November 30 – Qatar’s showpiece Lusail Stadium for the 2022 World Cup will be built as a Qatar-China joint venture between the China Railway Construction Corp. Ltd. and Qatari contractor HBK Contracting Co. The stadium is scheduled for completion in 2020 and will host the opening match and World Cup Final in 2022.
November 16 – Widely criticised over the treatment of migrant workers employed on construction sites, organisers of the World 2022 in Qatar have given the green light for its stadiums to be inspected by officials of the Building and Wood Workers’ International (BWI), a global federation of some 300 trade unions in the building industry that has a combined membership of more than 12 million workers.
By Samindra Kunti
November 15 – The Arena Corinthians, the World Cup showcase stadium in Sao Paulo that became the home of reigning Brazilian champions Corinthians, is facing severe structural damage due to a massive water leak beneath the facility. The condition may threaten the sustainable use of the venue and again questions the legacy of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
November 11 – Donald Trump’s victory in the United States presidential election has provided an “added layer” to today’s eagerly awaited World Cup qualifier between the US against Mexico, according to US captain Michael Bradley.
By Samindra Kunti
November 11 – Neymar and Phillipe Coutinho starred in Brazil’s comprehensive 3-0 win against Argentina in Belo Horizonte. The result leaves Argentina in danger of missing out on Russia 2018.
By Andrew Warshaw
November 9 – The chief organiser of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar has dismissed any suggestion of the Gulf state being stripped of host status by saying it is a “done deal.”
November 9 – Israel has warned fans not to attend the upcoming World Cup qualifier in Albania even though the match has been relocated to a different part of the country because of a planned Islamic State terrorist attack.
November 8 – Qatar is putting sustainability at the top of its stadium development agenda for the 2022 World Cup and FIFA has endorsed the use of Global Sustainability Assessment System (GSAS) to make sure that happens.
November 4 – FIFA have denied a claim by the Bolivian football federation (FBF) that sanctions imposed for fielding an ineligible player have been lifted.
November 2 – South America’s regional World Cup qualifying competition has taken a significant twist with Bolivia ordered by FIFA to forfeit two matches for fielding an ineligible player, a ruling that improves Chile’s chances but harms Argentina’s.
By Andrew Warshaw
October 24 – Qatar’s 2022 World Cup organisers were taken completely by surprise over FIFA’s decision to scrap local organising committees for its flagship event. Earlier this month, as part of its grandiose roadmap for the future, FIFA announced that after Russia the World Cup would be organised centrally as part of its plan take “full control of all money flows”.
October 21 – Newly appointed Russian deputy prime minister Vitaly Mutko, promoted from sports minister, says he may stand down as president of the Russian Football Union (RFU).
October 13 – At last news from Russia that isn’t about doping, racist incidents or national team players going wild in Monaco nightclubs. Russia 2018 organiser have named Nikita Simonyan as a World Cup ambassador.
By Andrew Warshaw
September 30 – In a clear message to FIFA that racism is still prevalent despite the scrapping of its anti-discrimination body, Russian club FC Rostov are likely to face a UEFA disciplinary sanction after a banana was thrown on to the field during their Champions League game against PSV Eindhoven.